The month of May can be a difficult time to find flowers to cut for the house, as the bulbs have finished flowering and hardy annuals have yet to bloom, so biennials such as sweet rocket are a great addition to the cutting patch.

Sweet rocket originated from theMediterraneanbut can now be found growing in most temperate climates. Known by several different names including dame’s violet, summer lilac and night-scented gillyflower it is a member of the brassica family; the four petalled flowers looking similar to those of stocks or rocket. The sweetly scented flowers are at their most potent in the evening hence their botanical name, Hesperis matronalis, ‘hesperos’ being Greek for evening.

It can be a perennial plant resprouting from the base in spring but as the plant has a tendency to become very woody it is best to treat sweet rocket as a biennial. This means sowing in early summer one year and waiting until the following spring for the plant to flower. It can grow to 1 metre tall, producing a clump of leaves at the base of the plant, which spread to about 40 cm, before sending up long flower stalks. The leaves are lance shaped and mid-green in colour with a slightly rough, hairy feel to them. The flowers consist of four petals and come in a range of pinks, purples and lilacs; there is also a white variety available, Hesperis matronalis var. albiflora. Sweet rocket prefers well drained soil and likes full sun but it’s a fairly robust plant and can cope with most conditions, apart from full shade.

Growing Tips

Sow from late May though to mid July in seed trays filled with a 50:50 mix of multi-purpose compost and vermiculite. Cover lightly with compost or vermiculite, water, label and then place in a cold frame, greenhouse or on a window sill. Keep moist and germination should take about a week to 10 days. Prick out seedlings into individual pots and grow on. In September plant out into their final growing position about 40-50cm apart. The plants will overwinter and then, in spring, send up flower stalks before flowering in May. Keep picking and they should continue to flower well into July, possibly even August.

They do grow to be quite tall and, therefore, will need support. You could use bamboo canes and twine placed around the plants but I prefer to stretch some pea and bean netting across some posts horizontally so that the plants grow up through the netting and are supported this way.

When cutting flowers for the house, cut a long stem and plunge into water as soon as possible. It is always best, after picking, to place any cut flowers in a container with tepid water somewhere cool and dark, at least for several hours but preferably over night, before you then arrange them. When arranging, re-cut the stems to the required height and remove any leaves that will be below the water.

I particularly like the pink sweet rocket flowers when arranged with the acid green flowers of Alchemilla mollis or lady’s mantle, Euphorbias or Bupleurum would work equally as well.

The flowers can also be dried and added to pot pourris or as they are edible, used fresh to decorate desserts or incorporated into salads.

#wildflowerhour takes place every Sunday between 8-9pm on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Just add #wildflowerhourto your posts about the flowers you've found growing wild in Britain and Ireland in the previous week, and enjoy an hour of beauty and happiness. And if you don't recognise a flower, post it and our wonderful community of experts and amateur botanists will help ID it.

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1 Comment

What a lovely post. Love to use this, in May. Used to pick it as a child, use it as an adult and florist. Last week mixed it with Thlaspi green bell and honeysuckle. Love lilac/ lavender colours in May. Noticed lots growing in Hyde Park too!